We’ll All Be Wearing These “Ugly” Staples Soon

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When I was very young and frustrated, throwing a tantrum over something inconsequential that I cannot remember, I decided to insult my mother. Because I was in the wrong and I subconsciously knew it, the only slander I could devise was about her outfit. “Well, you know, that’s ugly,” I told her. To my surprise she smiled. “Thanks. It’s Prada.”

Miuccia Prada famously embraced the ugly, telling T magazine in 2013, “Ugly is attractive, ugly is exciting. Maybe because it is newer. The investigation of ugliness is, to me, more interesting than the bourgeois idea of beauty. And why? Because ugly is human.” Prada attributes the success of the fashion house to her ability to open herself and her clothing up to the unattractive in an industry notoriously obsessed with perfection. And ironically, some people would describe Miuccia’s designs as perfect because of how she embraces the aesthetics we’re exposed to every day but that often go unseen.

Life (especially recently) is made up of many pieces that are not pristine and perfect. Everything Prada has ever made is a testament to this very real dichotomy of beauty and ugliness, reality and idealism, aspirational fashion and the ordinary everyday.

In recent months, “Gorpcore” as penned by The Cut has been everywhere. The trend is essentially glamping but with clothing that’s actually functional for camping. Patagonia t-shirts, windbreakers, and fleeces. Teva sandals and down puffers. As someone from New York City, I have always had a distaste for all these things (and hiking/camping/surviving in nature.) They essentially represent everything I’ve never needed to wear, but now I strangely find myself gravitating towards them (specifically, this Sandy Liang fleece).

The trend hasn’t come entirely out of the blue and is inherently a byproduct of many millennials’ political awakening. With a president who thinks climate change is a hoax, a government that’s threatening to cut EPA funding drastically, and numerous natural disasters across the globe (so far, 2017 is 2nd for most US natural disasters on record), the well-being of our planet has never been of such concern. And even if city kids in fashion capitals like London, Milan, and New York aren’t necessarily up against the elements, they’re supporting socially and environmentally responsible brands like Patagonia and North Face (who is currently collaborating with Sacai) in lieu of trendy fast-fashion pieces that are infamous for their carbon footprint.

High fashion is clearly crafting its own take on “gorpcore,” creating “ugly” pieces in the same vein and styling in a way that elevates them to a glamorous level never before seen. Even if the iconic fashion houses weren’t necessarily founded on the same tree-hugging principles of the OG gorpcore brands (who probably don’t even know what gorpcore is), they were established with the best craftsmanship and the finest materials. A designer piece is always high-quality and made to last, a timeless piece that speaks of a moment in history. As Miuccia said, “Fashion is about the way we compose ourselves every day.” And every day right now feels like a bit of a revolution, a platform, a way to use clothing to speak. And so what if maybe they’re a little “ugly?” I’m kind of into it.